Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH

CFH GmbH (www.cfh-group.info), Gladbeck/Germany, has joined with ventilation specialist Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH, Witten/Germany, to set a common course for the future. The cooperation among the subsidiaries and holding companies in the ventilation sector will be further intensified by the CFH Group’s assuming full holding of Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH and their technical expertise will be bundled even more effectively (Figure 1).

CFH GmbH is a medium-sized corporate group that bundles globally operating subsidiaries and holding companies in the ventilation technology business. The products of CFH member companies offer effective solutions in the primary areas of dust removal and ventilation as well as the heating and cooling of air. The realisation of complex, complete air-handling systems is also possible.

Ventilation and aeration play a decisive role in mining and tunnelling projects during mechanical driving, drilling and blasting or during clean-up operations. CFH Group offers axial or radial fans for ventilation, including sound insulation and accessories, for these projects. Axial fans from the CFH holding Korfmann Air Technology GmbH with impeller diameters from 300 to more than 3,700 mm are used. All fans are carefully examined before delivery. The approvals required for national and international mining and tunnelling have been obtained.

Per 1st October 2020, the CFH Group’s holding in Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH increased to 100 %. As of 1st January 2021, all sales activities in the ventilation sector will be handled by CFT GmbH Compact Filter Technic. Customers and business partners will receive notification in good time.

Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH from Witten took over the fan construction division of Maschinenfabrik Korfmann GmbH in 2001 and has since then specialised in the sale and project planning of fans for underground use. Korfmann Lufttechnik has successfully designed and delivered almost 6,000 Korfmann fans for mining and tunnel construction worldwide since 2001. The predecessor company, Maschinenfabrik Korfmann, had previously manufactured a total of more than 30,000 fans for mining and tunnelling in over 120 years of company history.

The fans and silencers have been manufactured exclusively by CFT GmbH Compact Filter Technic, also a wholly-owned subsidiary of CFH Group, since 2001, so CFT and Korfmann can look back on many years of cooperation based on partnership. In recent years, CFT and Korfmann have successfully realised projects in the field of main pit ventilation with impeller diameters of 3.35 m. One of the primary focal points for many years has been the complete ventilation of mines. The main pit fans operate in single, row or block stations, both above and below ground. CFH Group realises intelligent custom solutions with energy-efficient use of the main pit ventilation stations characterised, e. g., by mechanised blade adjustment during operation and the use of frequency converters.

CFH Group supports its customers in their mining and tunnelling projects with tailored planning and conceptual design of ventilation systems, complete ventilation plant construction (including peripheral equipment) and operational startup. As always, the teams from Markus Thomeczek (CFT) and Jens Kegenhoff (Korfmann) will be available to answer any questions on the subject of ventilation. (CFH/Si.)

Projects which shall improve the infrastructure are generally connected with densely populated countries. An exception is the project “WestConnex” in Australia. The population and the economy of the Australian state New South Wales with its capital Sydney combat an insufficient infrastructure since years. The congestion of harbours and streets by rising imports and increasing population caused the government to invest approximately 17 bn AUD in order to achieve a long-term economic growth and a considerable improvement of the infrastructure in the region around Sydney.

By implementing this project in three stages of construction with a planned term of eight years and completion in 2023, approximately 10,000 work places in different trade branches are generated. The implementation of the project is carried out by CPB Samsung John Holland Joint Venture and Leighton Dragados Samsung Joint Venture. The high investment costs shall finally be compensated by calculated economic benefits in the amount of 20 bn AUD. Nevertheless the planning of this project to the point of the final permission has taken many years owing to financial and ecologic consideration of the population.

The capacity development of the highways M4 and M5 as well as the connection of these both highways shall provide a better connection between city, airport and harbour.

The first two stages of construction comprise the enlargement of the highway M4 to four lanes per driving direction and also the heading to enlarge highway M5. In third stage of construction two additional tunnels are advanced with three lanes per driving direction in order to link both highways (Figure 2).

To construct a highway of 33 km full length, 14 km above ground and 19 km underground as tunnel (approx. 50 m depth) 50 roadheaders in total are applied in this project. Energy-efficient, economic and eco-friendly technologies shall guarantee that upcoming disadvantages and interferences are minimized and the population shall be convinced of the benefit during the course of project.

The air quality on construction sites and in the surrounding area is examined during the entire course of project and the results are transparently published in reports for the population. That requires a professional and reliable dust collection during the building activities.

The company CFT GmbH Compact Filter Technic based in Gladbeck/Germany has been commissioned to guarantee a dust-free, low-noise and resource-efficient dust collection on the construction sites. 35 dry-type dedusting systems of CFT provide a convenient and clean working environment in three construction sections while complying with regulated MAC values in the field of work safety and environment protection. The clean air on the construction sites secures the man-machine protection during the entire project duration.

Engineers of CFT GmbH designed three various systems of the type HTKK (Figure 1)
with dimensions up to 15 m x 2.50 m x 3.50 m and suction capacities up to 3,000 m³/min for WestConnex. The dedusting systems achieve residual dust contents of < 0.1 mg/m³ when they are equipped with filter material quality CFM. These test results were determined by the testing laboratory for air pollution control “Deutsche Montan Technologie GmbH” (DMT) in Essen/Germany. These high-quality systems stand out due to a long life, efficiency as well as a mobile and rugged design. The successful realisation of the project was carried out with the involvement of the associate company Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH in Witten/Germany and DFT GmbH Deichmann Filter Technic in Bebra/Germany.

MTV Mine & Tunnel Ventilation Pty. Ltd., CFT‘s Australian business partner, was commissioned to guarantee quick and personal services on site.

Korfmann-made fans provide the air transport by generating a corresponding negative pressure and owing to their rugged, compact and modular execution they can be applied in each of the numerous construction sections. The energy-efficient fan stations have an optimised noise level. All in all Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH has supplied 35 fan stations. Fans of the type GAL are mainly used. They generate extremely high pressure and achieve excellent separation efficiency (up to 90 % and more) with a diameter of 1.4 m, a driving capacity of 2 x 110 kW and using two contra-rotating impellers.

DFT GmbH Deichmann Filter Technik has manufactured the dust collection bins and discharging organs which are part of CFT dedusting plants.

The products of the companies CFT, Korfmann and DFT are used in mining and tunnelling worldwide as well as in industrial applications because of their reliable and low-maintenance operation mode.

Further information/Weitere Informationen:
CFT GmbH Compact Filter Technic
www.cft-gmbh.de

DFT GmbH Deichmann Filter Technic
www.deichmann-filter.de

Korfmann Lufttechnik GmbH
www.korfmann.com